Although it begins with a panting introduction by novelist Sherman Alexie, Lutes's intricate work consistently chooses the low road, the subtle over the grand. The unfussy black and white drawings move in orderly panels towards each of the well-plotted emotional high points where his dialogue, pacing and deft characterisations combine to devastating effect. The Amazing Ernesto - Ernie to the lowlifes he now consorts with - has been eased into bad times by drink and an inability to hang on to his love, Esther. Aided by his ageing mentor, himself slowly slipping into dementia, and a confidence man determined to find a better life for his own daughter, Ernie tries to find a way out of his own disappearing act, an impulse his own brother followed by throwing himself into a river. Because Lutes relies on sparse dialogue and keeps the visual language simple, the intricacy and craftsmanship are only revealed near the end. Even more satisfying on rereading, this work emphasises the second word in the term "graphic novel".